Nice Things.

A parcel...

beautifully wrapped...

...but containing something even more beautiful inside - a gorgeous print I recently ordered from Julia Crossland. I love it.

The fabulous waether continues. By this afternoon it even started to feel too hot for working in the garden (it doesn't take much heat to make me wilt!). Here are a couple more garden photos...

Bumble bee.

Tulips (again)

Spirea.

Hosta leaves unfurling.

Even the lilacs are about to bloom.

Today hubby gave the grass its first cut of the year. This always has the effect of instantly making the whole garden look much tidier, so over the weekend I hope to take some "bigger picture" photos of the garden for sharing.

Last night I hosted a craft night so there's been a little bit of baking happening...

Three of the limes used for a key lime pie.


Rock cakes.

Shells (in the blue bowl seen far left in the rock cake pic)

Now to Easter...

...the chocolate bunnies, as they were this morning.

And as they are now (on a high shelf safely out of reach!).

This afternoon we went on a little family bike ride to the loch. Hubby tows A on a tag-along and I tow N in his trailer. Today N likes singing "Bob The Builder" as loud as he can while being towed along.

We head round to the bird sanctuary. This is the view from one of the bird hides.

Zooming in closer, hills in the far distance, in the middle distance a church spire, and a heron in the foreground.

Beech trees are coming into leaf.

Little cottage and sailboat.

The joy of chucking stones in the water.

And sunbeams, just before we enjoy a fish supper at the lochside then cycle home.

Happy and Colourful.

Uh oh, I've started a new blanket.

Since finishing my African flower blanket I'd made a couple of (since abandoned) attempts at other projects. I've discovered that amigurumi is just not for me (sorry, it's just so boring going round & round in dc and I always lose count of where I am) and my muddy sock yarn is also not exciting me much either.

So, inspired by Andrea at Apples and Pears I have begun making a jewel blanket.

I just fancied something simple and colourful to work on and which can be picked up/put down easily.

It's also very satisfying to be able to take daft photos of all the little colourful crocheted circles as I make them (notice I am crocheting/sewing in the ends as I go this time!)

While in the garden I couldn't resist taking a couple more photos of the tulips as they're just looking so gorgeous this year.


I've also bought a chicken!

Not a real one, just this little embroidered one from Snapdragon. It came with a lovely postcard and some great stickers.

Earlier this morning, as it was such a nice day I took N in the trailer for a bike ride along the cycle path to the loch.

Hazy sunshine across green fields.

My bike looks tiny against this enormous cycle sculpture.

The view of the loch from the bench where we ate our icecreams (a Flake cornetto for N and a Magnum double caramel for me).

We then met up with a friend and her little girl and went for a wander.

Puddle guddling.

Photographing the lambs.

Feeding the ducks.

Then back home. Jackdaws perch on a gate as we leave the cycle path.

I think this lovely weather is to continue for a few more days, it would be fantastic if it lasted over the holiday weekend. I hope it's good wherever you all are too!

Saturday Morning Bike Ride

Off and away just after 8am. Weather conditions a little gloomier and colder than it has been but still dry.

Looking back towards the village, foreground left we have my usual view of a ewe and her lambs (ie running away!)

Daffodils line this road, I like the paler ones here.

Farm buildings.

A distant stately(ish) home.

Tree mound.

A road (not one I take today) through green fields.

The gorse is in full bloom. A long row of houses tops the fields above the reservoir. In the distance can be seen the faint outlines of mountains.

I spot quite a few blackthorn bushes out this way though it's still not terribly common round here. I'll try and remember where they are so I can return for sloes in the Autumn.

Sheep safely grazing.

The view across the Clyde to the mountains of Cowal, not terribly clear today.

Cow feeding trailer thingy on a little knoll with interesting fence post arrangement in front(!)

Knarled old gorse.

Mossy trees.

Back past the soldiers, then home.

I make some fatty cutties to have after lunch, the ride was quite a hilly one so I feel I deserve some carbs.

Now, to the garden...

...we've had glorious weather Sunday & Monday...

Our tulips are now in bloom. I like these simple shaped ones which reliably pop up every year rather than the more fancy ones which usually need replanting.

It's the first year we've had blossom on our little ornamental cherry.

Today A and a friend made a pebble sculpture.


And just for the record (seeing as this is the only form of diary I keep)...

A and I went to the theatre earlier in the week. I'm glad she's still a big fan of Charlie & Lola as I like them too. We both enjoyed the puppet show very much then we took the underground to the West End (Glasgow not London!) for a huge lunch, browsed a couple of shops (with a slightly smelly almost untouched pizza doggy bag) then returned home on the bus. It was lovely to have a day out with my little girl, hopefully there will be many more to follow. In the meantime hubby (on a day's holiday to look after N) went swimming and for a bike ride so they had fun together too.

PS Thank you to everyone who has recently left comments, they're very much appreciated (and I do try to return the favour). I've also reached 100 followers which is happy news, thanks again!